Ten dollars for a pack of cigarettes? It might soon become a reality in many stores in New York City. The cigarette tax in New York would jump $1.60 a pack under a tentative deal struck between Governor David Paterson and state government leaders.

It goes without saying, but we're gonna go ahead and say it anyway: Nobody likes getting a speeding ticket. And that's especially true when said ticket isn't issued by a human officer, but from a machine set up to catch unwary motorists off guard. If only there was some way to get back that lost sense of justice...

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has taken a bold stand against government over-reach: She is five days late paying her property taxes.

Want a big federal Government? Have TOO much money? Love taxes? Wish you could pay more? Well now you can via the pay.gov website. The wonderful bureaucrats over at the treasury department are allowing anyone to voluntarily contribute more of their money to help pay for public debt. Now you and all the other blind nationalist sheep can go on bah bah-ing with each other knowing you did all you could to help YOUR government!

I was in New Hampshire's Sullivan County district court today to respond to a traffic arrest from February. I was not told, and did not know exactly what kind of proceeding I was involved with.

Rather than give the whole shebang away, I thought I'd relay these two salient observations:

1) I was the only person ( out of about 15 or so ) to plead "Not Guilty."
2) My fees & fines ( for not having my papers in order ) are higher than driving 99 mph in a 65 zone.

If you're interested, I'll try to call in.